Heating system



D. T. KENNEY.

Hmm@ svsmw.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. I9I5. l ,352,371 Patentedsept. 7, 1920. v

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- 2 i Y I1 IIIIIIIIIIIIIITI I. w

Q l/. l w f 9/ f .f

D. T. KENNEY.

HEATING S'YSTEIVI. APPLlATloN FILED MAY?. 1915.

Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

D. T. KENNEY.-

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY?, 1915.

Patented sept. 7,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

anomms @Wag D.v T. KENNEY.

l HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION F|LED MAY 7| 1915. 1 352, 37 1 Patented Sept. 7 1920.

5 SHEETS-*SHEET 4.

n. T. KENNEY.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1915..

1,352,3'1- 'Pamdsepn 7,1920.

5 sHEETs-sHEET 5.

UNHE STATS Prem" erica.

DAVID T. KENNEY, OF NORTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

HEATING sYs'rEivr.

assenti.

Specicaton of Letters Patent. i atenteid4 Spia. 7 1920.'

Appucatibn med May 7, 1915. serial No. 26,568.

My inventionhas for its object to permitv the use of fire-places in .a more effective manner than is now commonly the case.

As is well known, the heat generated in a fire-place and utilized in `raising the temperature of the room bears only a small proportion to the total heat units generated by the combustion of the fuel. This has led to the abandonment of fire-places to a greatextent as heating means, although the places are often installed in new buildings in deference to architectural traditions, and because of the artistic results produced thereby. Frequently, these hre-places are blind z'. e., do not connect with a chimney flue and serve no strictly utilitarian function.

By the'devices described in this application, I am not only enabled to utilize a greater proportion of the heat generated in a fireplace, but am enabled to utilize fireplaces in which there is or can be, no fire, as a source of heat, thus enabling me to remove to a greater or less extent the radiating elements now used in connection with steam or hot water heating from places in which they are now put, and to locate rai diating elements in fire-places, heretofore useless.

My invention for the purposes indicated contemplates the installation in the fire place 1 of', or the forming of fire-places by elements, either adaptedto absorb heat from combustion taking place therein, and by their construction adapted to radiate into the room itself the heat so absorbed in a more perfect manner than the heat would 'be radiated from the lire-place itself, were my invention not present therein, or else adapted for use as a heat-radiating element. In the` latter case, the lire-place element is connected to a proper heat-absorbing element, which may be either a hot water heater or a steam boiler of usual construction and location, or may be of a fire-place elementof the construction first indicated. ndeed a heatabsorbing element located in orv forming a fire-place as rst above indicated, may, when properly connected with and piped to radiating elements of Vany approved construction located where desired, be used as the means of heating such radiators by a proper .cir-v culation of steam` or hotv water from the former to the'latter.

The invention` further consists in the con .struction of the fire-place elements, wherein by they are the better adapted for the pur-` poses had in view by .their use, viz., the absorption of heat from the fire, the transfer of such heat to the fluid-circulating medium,

the proper transfer of the heat of the cir-l culating medium to radiating surfaces forming part of the fire-place clement and so arranged as to economically heat the room; and the useof the surfaces of the `fire-place elements themselves as effective heat-radiating parts when not used as heat-absorbing parts and when properly connected tov a'.

proper heater, and the arrangement and construction Vof the several parts of they elements, wherebya proper circulation of the steam or water isinsured, both for the purpose of the economical utilization of the heat and for the protection of the elements themselves.

I Referring to the accompanying drawings 1n which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding marks of'reference,-

Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof with` an elevated water-back added thereto.

Fig. .Lis a transverse section on line X*' X4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail of; one of the standard shown in the preceding lgures.v

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another the fire-place element such as shown in Fig. 2.

ferm` of v Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectionv thereof onlines X7--X7 of Fig. 6. j

Fig.l 8 is a plan lview ofy a lire-place ele@` ment in the form of a radiator.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of an elementcona fire-place element falling within the broad scope of this invention.

Fig. 13 is a plan view thereof. p

Fig. 14 is a fore and aft section of a form of hearth also falling within the broad scope the flow and return pipes 2 and 3, respec-v tively, with a radiator or radiators Il, located at desired points on an Iupper story or stories, and also connected with an expansion tank 4t. Allof the above features are well known and may be of standard structure, and therefore demand no furtherl description. At 5 and 6 are seen fire-place elements` constructed in accordance with this invention, these being connected to the flow pipe 2, and to the return pipe 3 by the branches 7 and 7a.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4l, I have shown therein a fire-place element, such as is shown at 5 in Fig. 1, and constructed to act both as a heat-absorber and radiator when combustion takes place in it, and in the arrangement shown in Fig.V 1, to act as a radiator if no fire is used in it. l The element comprises a base 8, from the rear of which risesa back wall 9, and from the sides of which, toward the rear, rise the side-walls 10, the back and side walls being so shaped as to snugly fit within the selected tire-place, while the base on front` of the `sidewalls is widened out laterally and con-- tinued forwardly to form a hearth 8" in front of the fire-place. The parts named may be, but are each in itselfand together, and areall hollow, the interval cavities therein communi eating freely with each other wherever the parts in which they are contained abut against and are in contact with each other. The parts described form a combustion chamber inside in the fire-place.

Arising frointhe. back of the base and within the combustion chamber are the'back andirons or log supports in the form of hollow ridges 11, the internal cavities of which at their rear ends connect with the cavity in the back wall and at their bottoml with the cavity of the hollow base. The ridges are located on each side of the transverse center line of the element. Y

The side walls, at Ytheir forward end, are continued inwardly toward the transverse center-line, forming front walls 12, which at their inner ends are extended rearwardly, parallel with each other, on opposite sides not necessarily integral, i

of the transverse center line and on the outside of the ridge-walls 11, thus forming the front andirons 13, the walls 12 and the andironsl being hollow, the cavities therein forming continuations of the cavities in the side-walls 10 and bein@ in communication with the cavity in the base.

As an additional heat-absorbing surface, I may, as shown, place within the {ire-place and above the partsdescribed above, a back consisting preferably of a hollow flat casting 111 and wing-walls 14EL forming a water back, and having on its forward face at its upper end, hollow ribs 15. Such a water back may be connected to the main element by a short nipple 16 or other suitable coupling, arising from the top ofthe back wall and entering the bottom of the water-back.k

the opening being surrounded by walls 19 uniting the top and bottom walls ofthe base. This opening, which may be provided with a door 2G, permits the discharge of ashes from the fire-place and the-walls 19 around it serve to strengthen the base. lt will be noted that the hearth formed by the front part of the bottom of the casting takes the place of the brick or stone heartlis now `commonly employed in front of fire-places.Y By preference it islaid in some non-conduct.y

ing cement (say of asbestos or magnesia). lit may either be laid flush with the floor,

or slightly raised above it, (see Fig. t) and *i in the latter case, may have a'fender wall 8B erected around its edges. This wall may also be hollow, and be in communication with the hollow base to serve as additional radiating surface. y Y Y llith the construction above described, if a fire is built on the andirons, a certain part of the heat generated thereby is imparted throughout the walls about and in the combustion chamber to the water contained in the interior thereof. rlhis causes the water to circulate through the piping system tok cooler portions which are thereby heated, the heat so imparted tothe water being in vaddition to and supplemental of the heat due to the heater 1. Among the partsheat ed by the water is the hearth 8a formed by the fore part of the casting which thus forms a heat radiating part of the lire-place element. This hearth duev to its location out in the room and at the licor level affords an efficient radiating surface, augmenting the heatdue to the radiation from the lire in the lire-place element. Y

If no heat-absorbing element other than the fire-place element itself be present in` the system, as Would .be the case if the heater 1 be removed or be temporarily cut off by the valves 21 and 22 in the flow and return pipes 2 and 3 near the heater, the

suitable Water supply to permit the proper` amount of water to be maintained inthe system and to'make good evaporation losses. The radiating surface formed by the hearth may be augmented by placing thereon on each side of the fire-place radiating elements of any preferred construction. 1n

the drawings l have shovvn such radiating elements as each formed of a hollovv column 23V, each preferably having its surface ornamented, roughened or corrugated, as by fins or vanes 24, to increase its radiating sur- Y to the rear of the lire-place, are discontinu- Y ous, and that theback andirons are out of line with the front ones. lThis, While it prof vides for a support of-the lire from front to back WithoutA interruption, also provides that the front supports are farther apart than the rear ones, as is desirable, and gives additional heating surface. Moreover, inasmuch as with the constructionY shown, the andirons, for convenience in casting, are formed as ridges arising from the base, and not apertured from side to side, by so placing the andirons out of line an opening is formed betiveen them, and in the nre-place, level vviththe base of the fire-place element, through which opening the ashes may be swept to the ashV opening Without bringing them outl in the room. rlhis discontinuity of tie front and rear andirons renders the front Walls .12. of great use in connecting the forward ends of the front andirons through'- out their height with the side Walls, thus providing for the proper circulation Vof Water up from the base and through the irons. he tops of the front and rear irons may moreover, be slightly downwardly inclined toward the rear and front, respectively, as is shown exaggerated in Fig. 4 for the purposes of illustration, to aid this circulation.V This will also serve to center the4r logs and prevent their rolling.

Standards, preferably ornamental and removable, may also be employed to prevent the fire fromfalling out. ln TFig. 5 l have shoivn in detail such a standard. As there illustrated, it embraces a head 25, and lingersl 26, the latter being adapted to straddle the front Walls l2 by which the standards will be held in place. Such standards by their contact with the heated Walls of the lire-place element are heated by conduction and serve as radiating parts. Y

ln Figs. 6 and 7, have shown another form of fire-place element, and in this there is a base S, back Wall 9, and side Walls l0,

as in the form first described. in the construction here referred to the andirons are not integral with `the other parts, but are formed by hollow standards 30 located at or near the front of the fire-place, and horizontal tubular horizontal members 31 connecting them With the'back Wall. The standards may be provided With nipples 32 by Which 'they may be screvved into suitably tapped openings in the top of the base and through which their central cavities communicate with the cavity ofthe base. On its rear side, andl at a suitableA height, each standard is provided with Va suitable packing box 33, into Whichthe forward end of the correspending tubular member projects, its rearI end being connected vvith and entering a suitably tapped hole 34 in the rear Wall. By this construction provision is made for the expansion and contraction of the hori. zontal members under the variations of temperature' to which they are subjected.

inasmuch as this embodiment of my invention provides 4for a passagerbelow the andirons from side to side thereof, and for an andiron continuous Vfrom the front to rear of the lire place in it the front vvalls l2 of the preceding figures are not necessary, as the'vvater circulatesup Within the stand ards and ythence rearwardly through the tubular horizontal members 31 to the back vvall 9. e

1n Figs. 9, l0, 1l, l have'shoivn a form of my invention in which the lire-place isv formed, not by the 'Walls ofthe building, but by a structure adapted to stand` in a room, against, or close toa Wall and to be connected With a flue opening in such Wall. T his form permits the use Vof my invention in buildings not having either real the cavity of the upper back, is a hollow arch 411, forming the sides and top of a combustion chamber, in which rEhe interior cav-y is contained a grate ity .of the arch. is connected at its lower ends on each side of the combustion chamber with the cavity of the baise, and at itsrear with the cavity or" the hollof7 back.

The grate consists oit bars 43 having their rear ends connected by a rear cross bar lid, and. their front ends extended up and connected by a front cross bail parts hollow, the cavities ineach of the several parts communicting with the cavities in the parts. conn d therewith. The rear cross is fastened to the bach' in any le manner, and has its cavity cona suit oie mann-oi, as oy nipples lo, n n c d.rirntbr-.r is connected to the cavitf' in the bach bv tubular ties 17. i-i suitable burner 18 lor gase- V ons fuel is shown as projecting within the vmay be lilled i be heated to in combustion chamber bei 'J' the grate, which reci-y material to by the iiame from the burner. It is 'obv however, that if desired a fire may be built in the grate.

As shown, a pipoi? led i'r'oni near the top of the back wall to the circulating system, while pipes 2 and 7 enter the bottoni.

As in the previous f onstruction other means l'or heating the circulating'medium'or of radiating the heat therefrom may be connected to the circulating system.

It is obvious that it is imn eriah in so liar as aiiects certain features oi? the invention herein describeihwhat in.V l the fuel burnt within the hre-place ele understood that the structure A i in' the combustion chamber be properly adapted to receive the fuel used. i

Incase there be no iire in a lire-place element 'constructed in accordance with this invention,v and connectedjvith a heat-absorbing element, such as the `boiler of the furnace 1 (see F ig. 1) all the exposed sur- 'faces of the tire-place element become radiating surfaces, certain of them changing their character from heat-absorbing to heat radiating ones. `As this change is one liable to frequently occur, I prefer to place in the flue from vthe combustion chamber Aan Vadjustable damper 49 (Fig. 1) or (Fig.

All of these i with the gaviizy in the baci; also inating element.

wardly from thelire-place to forni-a hearth n 'at 50, such corrugations extending out in the space which would beneeded for a com- It is obvious that any desired configuration either from the esthetic or utilitarian point of view may be given to the part inside the fireplace. Thus a radiating element in the shape oi a log oi' wood may be placed between the side walls andfsuitably connected with the circulating system.. Inasmuch as such an element does not contemplate the presence of a lire, the {ire-place in which it is located may be spurious and have no tine' connection, this being shown `at 6 in Fig. 1. Such an lelement when connected to proper piping system, comprising a suitable waterdieater, such as a furnace or hea. absorbing fire-place element such as shown at 5, liig. 1, or in `Figs. 2, 3 and e. and 9, 10, and 11, will vobviously f rm a suhstitute ior a radiator of any of the present accepted constructions, and will,

due to its location within the lire-place, andV its use asthe hearth therefor, be out of use .tor otl er purposes.

In Figs. 12 and 13, I have shown a form of the invention comprising a hollow base for the floor of a fire space, and an extended hearth 16, and which has a depression 47 therein to permit the circulation of aii` to below the logs resting on the hearth and across the depression. An ash door 20, such as before described, may be'located in the dein-essieu. In this case, the heating of the fluid circulating medium is due toconduction through the metal side of the base which is toward the lire.

Pipes 7L and :7 are shown entering the base, while pipe 17 rises from the rear of the ktop of the base.

bustion chamber if al was present in the y Y element.

outthe central depression of Figs. 12 and 13, and as comprising a hollow slab casting 51 v(which may be sectionalized if desired) and connected with suitable circulating pipes 7 and 7a.v v On such a hearth, suitable liresupporting and holding vdevices of any de-V sired kind may be erected. In the figures such devices are shown in the form of andirons 52 made from pipes with suitable ornamentations attached thereto. The andirons are shown as connected with the pipe 17 and forming the connection thereof with the In any construction care should be exercised that all parts receiving heat from the fire are so arranged that no traps will be formed to become filled with air to the eX- clusionv ofy water, as under such circumstances fthe metal of the -parts 'will be deprived of the protection aiforded them against excessive heating and the warping and burning out attendant thereon, due tov the lack of circulation inside of them. rlhis circulation is provided for by the constructions shown and described herein. Furthermore, any traps in radiatingparts should be provided with automatic valves (as in` applicable in part also for use with a steam system with such changes in the piping as may be rendered necessary thereby. ln this case it will probably not be desirable to make use of the lire-place element as a heatabsorber, but to use it solely as a radiating.

element.

It will be further seen that by the use of the hollow base 8 with a circulating medium therein, rprotection is afforded'to the floor structure, including the joists and headers thereof against excessive heating and consequent danger of fire. Y

A system such as herein described may be used either in its entirety or in its constituent parts as the sole means of heating, or as an auxiliary to other means. Under certain circumstances, a lire-place heat-absorbing element, with a heat-radiating hearth may not only be sufficient to warm the room in which it is located, but may also be capable of imparting heat to other radiating elements without the use of a furnace.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

l. In a circulating water heating system, a heating element for the water comprising a hollow fire supporting hearth forming the floor of an open lire-place.

2. The combination with a fire-place element having a hollow base and hollow rear portions arising therefrom and forming a combustion space, a portion of the hollowv base projecting beyond and in front of thel fire-place and forming a hearth therefor and containing a heated fluid circulating medium, and radiating elements arising from i the hearth on each sideof the fire-place.

3. A heating element comprising a hollow base, rear and side walls, rear andirons yprojecting from the rear wall, front andirons discontinuous from the rear andirons, and front walls connecting the forward ends of the front andirons with the side walls,all of the said walls and andirons being hollow and arising. from the base, the interior cavities in eachof the said parts communicating with the cavities of the other parts with which such parts abut, and with the cavity of the base at the points fromwhich they arise. Y Y

4. A heating element comprisingl a hollow base, rear and side walls, rear andirons projecting from the rearwall, front andirons discontinuous from the rear andirons, and being out of alinement therewith, and front Vwalls connecting the forward ends of the front andirons with the sidewalls, all of the said walls and andirons being hollow and arising from the base, theV interior cavities in each of the said parts communicating with the cavities of the other parts with' which parts abut, and with the cavity of the base at the points at which they arise.

5. A heating element comprising a hollow Vbase, rear and sidewalls, rear andirons projecting from the rear wall, front andirons discontinuous from the rear andirons, and being out of alinement therewith, and front walls connecting the forward ends of the front andirons with the side walls, all of the said walls and andirons being hollow vand out their contact with each other.

` DAVID T. KENNEY. 

